The search for new low cost materials is an important task of contemporary research in the environmental protection. Application of Moringa oleifera as a natural coagulant has revealed efficient result for different pollutants removal. The present study deals with the use of Moringa oleifera residue (MSR) powder as a coagulant for removal of fluoride and optimization of dose. The particle size of the respective coagulant particle was found to be (103.22±62.02 µm× 95±42.55 µm) which contains pores/cavities on the surface shows that average pore sizes is 6.01±3.23 nm × 7.26±3.33 nm in SEM image. Statistical analysis through two way ANOVA reveals that the removal efficiency of MSR coagulant found to be increased with decrease in initial fluoride concentration (2mg/l -10mg/l) and increase in coagulant doses (4g/l -18g/l). The optimum dose of coagulant was found to be 16g/l. The mean removal efficiency of 2mg/l (M=62, SD= 25.78) found to be significantly higher than other initial fluoride concentration (4mg/l-10mg/l). The maximum removal efficiency is found to be 95.22% for optimized dose.

Present study aim to understand the hydrochemistry of underground water of Kanpur Dehat district U.P. with special reference to fluoride contamination. Total 75 samples from ground water sources scattered in 10 blocks of Kanpur Dehat were collected and analyzed statistically. The characteristic feature of ground water indicated the presence of F-(0.20-4.76 mg/L), HCO 3 2-(213.50-1830.00 mg/L), CO 3 2-(0.00-204.00 mg/L) Cl-(0.00-603.50 mg/L), SO 4 2-(1.92-649.00 mg/L), Mg 2+ (13.74-138.51 mg/L), Ca 2+ (3.21-93.23 mg/L), Na + (23.50-750.00 mg/L), K + (2.00-87.12 mg/L). In general pH of ground water is found to be alkaline (mean ± SD, 8.11±.0.40 with high value of EC (458.00-4992.00 µS/cm), TDS (516.00-2998.00 mg/L), TH (89.70-740.00 mg/L), TA (0.00-1500.00 mg/L) and Iron (0.00-419 mg/L).Total 14.67% samples exceeds maximum desirable limit of BIS 10500 and WHO limit (1.5 mg/L). Sarwankhera is found to be worst affected where 50% samples exceeds both BIS maximum permissible limit and WHO limit, followed by Sandalpur, Derapur, Akbarpur, Rasulabad, Jhinjhank and Amroudha. Maitha, Rajpur and Malasa are found to be safe for drinking in reference of fluoride. The present study also revealed that fluoride enrichment in underground water is not ubiquitous, it occurs in patches. Some identified patched in present study area are Makanpur, Kakwan, Katra Aima, Mahua Derapur, Jalihapur, Hawaspur, Katra Bognipur, Vishayakpur and Rania. In Rania, which is an industrial area high fluoride contamination may be due anthropogenic activity. Fluoride shows significant strong positive correlation with EC (r = 0.326), TDS (r = 0.316), Na + (r =0.410), Cl-(r = 0.349) and SO 4 2-(r =0.245). Strong significant negative correlation of fluoride is observed with TH (r =-0.297), Ca 2+ (r =-0.253) and Mg 2+ (r =-0.223). Poor positive relation is observed with pH (r = 0.082), TA (r = 0.065), K + (r = 0.045), HCO 3-(r = 0.118) and poor negative correlation with CO 3 2-(r =-0.015) and Fe (r =-0.020). In order to further investigate and identify contributing sources on the basis of chemical signatures, factor analysis of the data was done. The analysis yielded four dominant factors and was expressed by data matrix variance of 67.68%.Present study advocate the fluoride enrichment of ground water is due to alkaline nature which led to increased sodium and bicarbonate concentration and decrease in calcium and magnesium concentration as a result of fluoride dissolution from fluoride bearing minerals.

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